Number of measles cases in Almaty has increased fivefold: situation in city and across Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – Countries continue to report rising measles cases in various regions. At a briefing in Almaty, doctors said that since the beginning of the year the number of patients with this infection in the city has increased more than fivefold. What is the situation in the country and which regions are in the risk zone?
Unstable situation: what Almaty specialists are saying
Deputy head of the Almaty Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Asel Kalikova said that the epidemiological situation for measles in the city remains unstable. Since the beginning of the year, 482 cases of measles have been diagnosed in Almaty.
According to her, the deterioration started back in November 2025, when measles was detected in 30 patients; in December there were already 142. The increase continues now.
That is why in the first ten days of December, Almaty resumed measles vaccination for children from six months of age.

“From 4 December 2025 to 12 February 2026, 1,720 infants received the vaccine — this is 16.1 percent of all those who are eligible for the shot. In addition, since the beginning of the year, 4,200 children and adolescents up to 18 years old have been vaccinated,” Kalikova shared.

Biologist and immunization consultant Assel Musabekova earlier explained that the vaccine given to children between six and eleven months is considered a zero dose. It does not cancel the routine vaccinations given at one year and at six years. It is an additional protection for babies who are not yet eligible for vaccination according to the standard schedule.
Who is getting measles more often?
Of the 482 measles cases in Almaty, 78 are clinico-epidemiological cases. They confirm that infection occurred after contact with a sick person.
Most often the infection is diagnosed in children under 14 — 451 cases, including 121 infants under one year, and 271 children up to four years old. Among teenagers, 2 cases were registered, and another 29 among adults.

“Compared to the same period last year, incidence has increased more than fivefold. If by the end of 2025 we were recording a decrease compared to 2024, now for January and February we see a significant increase,” Asel Kalikova emphasized.

Which city districts are in the top three?
Most measles cases in Almaty were registered in:

Alatau District – 197;
Nauryzbai District – 110;
Bostandyk District – 45;
Auezov District – 39;
Almalinsky District – 32;
Turksib District – 24;
Zhetysu District – 20;
Medeu District – 15.

According to Kalikova, 425 out of the 482 patients were not vaccinated against measles. In almost half of the cases, parents deliberately refused vaccination — there were 244 such cases.
Another 67 people did not receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions; 114 children simply had not yet reached the vaccination age, and in 23 cases the vaccination status could not be determined.

“Among the vaccinated, 34 cases were registered. At the same time, 33 of them had not received all doses of the vaccine, and only one person had completed the full course.”

Who is getting sick, and what measures are already in place
Most often, measles is detected in children who do not attend kindergarten or school — 348 cases. However, kindergarteners, schoolchildren and students are also getting sick.

“After identifying outbreak clusters, specialists identified 4,154 contacts. All of them were placed under medical observation for the duration of the incubation period. Based on epidemiological indications, 706 people received the measles, rubella and mumps vaccine,” the expert said.

The city is operating under Resolution No. 1 of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor dated 10 February 2026. According to it, children are admitted to hospitals only if they have a measles vaccination given at least 21 days before hospitalization, the speaker noted.
We remind you that the same rules were introduced in Astana at the beginning of February amid a sharp increase in measles incidence. Kalikova stresses that the only effective prevention against measles is vaccination.
The situation across the country
The Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Ministry of Healthcare told us that in 2025, 4,240 cases of measles were registered in Kazakhstan.
In January 2026 alone, 2,048 people with this diagnosis have already been identified in the country. Most of the patients are children under 14 — 1,755 cases. Among teenagers, 52 cases were registered, and another 241 among adults.

“Since the beginning of the year, 877 children under one year old and 2,235 children aged 1 to 14 years have been hospitalized with a measles diagnosis. Hospitals have also admitted 46 adolescents aged 15–17 and 291 adults,” the agency reported.

Measles has been recorded in 19 regions of the country, with the exception of Shymkent. The highest numbers of cases are in Zhambyl Region, Astana and Almaty.
According to official data, no deaths were recorded in 2025 and 2026. However, it was added that the disease often leads to serious consequences.
In 2025, 4,598 children had complicated forms of measles, and in 2026 already 2,801 children have had complications.